The National tribune., 1887-01-20
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a VARIETY OF Interesting
Snhiaffa


ITO Correspondents.-write questions on a sep
arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
and mark it Correspondents Column" No atten-
ton will be paid to communications that are not
accompanied with full name and address of writer
Our readers are requested to inclose q stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied to by mail only. Replies by mail will ordi
narily be made within week, and If in this col
umn within three weeSs.l
H. b., Yates Center, kdl.-l. "A soldier Is drawing
s24 per month on four disabilities and has n 6fth
pending. Will he be increased if he proves up the
fifth disability 2 Has the Commissioner of PEN
sions power to grant higher rate of pension than
S24 Der month for disability other than amputation
of limb? 8. IL claim IS referred to Congress.
all the affidavts and papers relating thereto SUBJ
80, providing the Board of Examining Surgeons
find him disabled in a degree which incapacitateS
him for the performance OF any manual labor,
which would entitle him to $50. 2. Yes; the Com
missioner has power TO rate pensiOner in accord
ance with the degree of his disability found to
exist. IL may be $50 even $50. g. The Congfes-
sional Committee in considering case pending
before Congress sends for all papers on file in the
Pension Office relatingto the claim, and everything
Is considered in connection Herewith
w. p j., Golden. KdR-would a person after
proving up preemption claim have to deed it or
move off said claim before he could file a home
stead? AnSlCer. No; a person cannot prove up a
homestead and presumption claim at the same
time, but If he has completed his presumption he
can file a homestead at any time.
u. r., North Jackson, O.-OrigindL pension means
the first pension granted. Increase of pension is
what its name implies, an increase of the original
pension. Reissue OF certificate is made to correct
an error or to allow pension on additional disable
ity, etc
d. L. r., RGn,bersb,rg, Pa-what is the rate Of
pension for total deafness in ear and severe in
the other? Answer. Si2 for enlisted man.
r. w. f., Lexington, I'LL am a pensioner at $50
per MONTH Being unable to artificial
limb. am not entitled to s45 per month under act
of Aug. T. 1886? AnslCer. Your claim having al
ready been adjudcated unde act of Aug. A. 1856 is
proof that your limb is nov anputated so near the
artificial limb; however If you can establish the
fact that you cannot wear artificial limb by rea-
son of amputatiOn being so near the joint, we see
no reason why you are not entitled to s45 per
month.
AEP r., Grisirold, Loloa.-was there an act passed
In 1867 allowing men who enlisted in 1862 an addi-
tional 500 bounty? AnSWsr. No such act was ever
passed. You may have reference, however to the
act of July o. 1856 known the additional bounty
act but that applied 90 all soldiers who did not re-
SlG0; but all claims under that act are barred the
law having expired June 30, 1880.
H. III. w., CGnddnUilLe OFF a soldier draws q
pension by special act at 81 per month"; afterwards
general act increases to 80, can he apply for PEN
sion new disability and get it if he proves his
DIE B., Shipmar, Mo.--3Iy enlistment was err
rOneousIy dated Where and to whom can apply
for correction of same? insurer. Apply to the Adj
jutantGeneral, U. 5. A. this city.
o.. H. g., MGzeppd, MtHn.-We have published the
information from time to time in our columns
however, we will again explain. The act of March
g. 1885, increased pension from SIS to S24 and from
81 to $50. The order of April 1884 increased the
rates for deafness hernia and loss of sight of one
eve. The act of March 3, 1855. increased pension
for amputation at the shoulder joint from SEQ TO
$3.50. The act of Aug. 4, 1885, increased pension
for loss of hand foot total disability therein
from S21 to $50, and for loss of leg total
disability therein from $50 to $685. for amputaton at
either shoulder or hip joint, the joint as
to prevent the use Of an artificial limb, from $3.50
to sl5.
w. IT. L., Ptattsburg Mo.-To whom shall T
apply for q truss? AnSVer. To the Surgeon Cen
eral, U. 3 A., this city, II you are pensioner by
reason Of hernia.
s. p, Lima, In-If soldier Is found guilty of
desertion by eOurt-martal can he have said
charges removed from the rolls if he proves that
he voluntarily gave himself up and returned to
his command serving out the remainder Of his
time; and he can also prove he detained at home
past the limit of his furough by the illness Of his
wife? AIlsl0er. No; the record of q eourt-martial
cannot be set aside; the War Department is power
less to change such record. The circumstances
surrounding the case would not alter the record in
any way; IL must stand as il is.
O. B., Ackiey, KGn.-t was paid $50 bounty accord
ing to the act of July o. S56. served from 1862 to
1860, and was discharged on account Of physical
disability; am / not entitled to $50 additional
AHs1cer. No.
j. IT,, Nontrose, Hich-1 Does the Government
furnish trusses for those who pensioned for in
guinGl hernia? 2 Do they commute in money
when it is desired? 3s.ro whom should applca-
ton be made for samef A. Would it be necessary
Anssger. l. Yes. 2 No. g. To the SurgeOn-Cfen-
eral. u 5. A. L. BY writing to him you will receive
blanks to be filed out. with full instructions.
~ ~
application for increase account of new disa-
bility have to return his pension certificate with
his application? 2 If claim for increase is made ON
account of new disabilities does that subject the
pensiOner to examination for the disabilities for
which he Is now receiving pension? AIlstCer. 1.
Mo- IL IS not necessary to send It to the Pension
JWF, Erie Pal. A man having served over
90 years in the o. 5. Navy received a service pen
ceive pension for disability incurred in service
2 How long after receiving pension before an APP
plieaton can be made for increase? g. Can you
publish the I" Battle Hymn of the Republic" by
Julia Ward Howe? Anstcer. L. Yes; If he can
prove his claim. 2. The rule Is six months. g. We
will try TO soon.
A. T. p Gristuold Io,Ua.-You do not state to
what facts the witnesses in your have testified
nor do you state whether you are able to show
your condition by medical evidence when you re-
turned from the army. III there is no record of the
disability claimed, and you unable to furnish
medical evidence showing treatment in service or
Immediately on your return therefrom, your claim
will probably be rejected, it will be held that
nothing but medical evidence will besaccepted in
such case.
u Nee. Nipple Creek. Ne6.-Have the inhabitants
of the District OF Columbia the right of suffrage
and how Is the District governed? 1nst0er. They
have not the right Of suffrage. because Congress
took that privilege away from them. The District
is under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress 1t
is governed by Board of three Commissioners APP
pointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate.
H. A. r., Brockton Mass-The adopted mother
of a soldier is not entitled to pension under any
law. The orphan sister Of soldier who died leav-
ing neither wife, children parents living is en-
titled to pension if she was under Is years Of age at
the time Of his death, and she can prove that the
soldiers death WAS due to service and line of duty,
and that she dependent upon him for support.
w. d.. CsnterriHe, I0s0d.-Can a soldier enter 100
acres of land without living thereon? 4aSUsr. He
enter the land, but he could not acquire title
thereto because the law requires actual residence
thereon.
Vsa O. Salem. Mdss.-1. We do not believe any
Board of Surgeons would reject an application for
pension simply because he was indebted to one of
| the members of said Board for Doctors bill 2
IL the soldier will submit to the Commissioner of
Pensions evidence from two good physicians show
ing that he IN disabled in pensionable degree by
reason of the disability claimed and request an ex
| animation before some other Board the Commits
| siOner will probably grant his request.
H. d. H., C7teSteTUte, Me.-A man draws pension
since discharge for loss of right arm; If he should
die of old age disease or should die from effects
OF fall caused through loss of said arm would his
widow be entitled TO pension? AnSlger. No; not
under present laws In all cases the fatal disease
must be shown to have originated in service and
| in line of duty.
d. w. Meuette Duk-L Is a man legally bound to
pay tax on land after proving IL up before he
ceives patent from the Government? 2. Can said
land be sold for taxes: AHStUer. No to both ques-
tons Until the patent issues the title to the land
rests in the Government. The settler does not own
the land until the patent issues. This is our opin-
ion. but in some States such lands taxed. and
Court of the United States to determine the validity
| OF such State laws. 10 is a matter in which the
Land ONCE viii not interfere
w. w.. Pleasant HUI ORE enlisted in 1861 and
500 bounty. Am entitled to any more? Anspsr.
No: but YOU would have been entitled to 500 adj
ditonal bounty had you applied for same prior to
July I, 1880, when the law expired.
p H., Erie, Pa.-You cannot establish your claim
on account of rupture unless you can prove by tes
timony of comrades who were with YOU when YOU